Join experts, state officials, and stakeholders from across the PJM Interconnect for a one-day workshop exploring state energy and environmental policy objectives and what they mean for FERC-regulated wholesale markets. This workshop will feature multiple perspectives on ongoing challenges and recent proposals to make state policies and regional market design work together, including PJM’s proposals for a two-tier capacity market or energy market carbon price. Register here.

The 2017 Energy Innovation Celebration will bring together leaders from government, business, and organizations for interactive conversations that will inspire and catalyze attendees toward action. By enabling conversations across sectors, we will open the door to idea exchange and relationship building that is critical to tackling our most pressing energy and climate challenges. View full schedule and speaker info here.

As always, this free event is a chance to see good friends and make new connections with community members, local government staff, and professionals committed to renewable energy and energy efficiency while enjoying food and beverages.

The e21 Initiative brings together key interests including utilities, consumer advocates, energy technology companies, other businesses, environmental and academic organizations, and government to enable Minnesota to continue to lead in shaping an electric system for the 21st century.

e21 Forums happen several times per year and provide an opportunity for interested parties in Minnesota to hear about and discuss important issues facing the electricity sector.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network and get to know each other in a casual setting.

Energy Storage North America (ESNA) is the largest conference and expo for grid-connected energy storage in North America, and this year will focus on grid modernization. Great Plains Institute is a proud partner of this must-attend event. Register today with our discount code ESNANOW for 10% off your conference registration. https://goo.gl/8UJZ0r

The e21 Initiative brings together key interests including utilities, consumer advocates, energy technology companies, other businesses, environmental and academic organizations, and government to enable Minnesota to continue to lead in shaping an electric system for the 21st century.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network and get to know each other in a casual setting.

The Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) will host an America's Smartland Series focusing on Grid Modernization: Energy Storage. This intensive discussion will bring together governors' office staff, staff from state public utility commissions and state energy offices, as well as other energy leaders for a series of webinars, culminating in an in-person meeting. Click here to view the full webinar schedule.

The Midwest Solar Expo is an annual solar energy conference and exhibition that brings together hundreds of executives and stakeholders from along the solar industry supply chain to advance Midwest markets through premium education, training and networking. For full information, click here.

Join the NARUC/DOE Carbon Capture, Storage & Utilization Partnership and the Great Plains Institute’s State Carbon Dioxide for Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR) Deployment Work Group for a webinar on infrastructure policy related to carbon capture projects.

Come hear the story of how a Minnesota company Valspar, based in Minneapolis tackled this challenge in a unique way, producing a new option which they have worked hard with stakeholders to demonstrate as a safer alternative to BPA-based linings.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network and get to know each other in a casual setting.

The CLC convenes around U.S. EPA’s prestigious Climate Leadership Awards, and brings climate, energy and sustainability professionals together to address climate change through policy, innovation, and business solutions. Great Plain’s Institute’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Doug Scott will participate in a panel discussion on Driving Subnational Action: Climate Partnerships, Policies, and Incentives. View current program agenda and speaker line-up to date to engage, learn from and network with thought leaders and decision makers.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network and get to know each other in a casual setting.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

Join Metro Clean Energy Resource Team (Metro CERT) to celebrate our 9th year of connecting communities to resources! You’ll network with community members, local government staff and professionals committed to local, clean energy while enjoying appetizers and beverages. Additionally, Metro CERT will share its work and accomplishments from the last year.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

Join us for our annual Energy Innovation Celebration, an event that gathers energy leaders to celebrate progress and energize for the future. This event will explore, share and celebrate a vision for advancing positive change on energy and climate, from the local to international level.

Join experts, state officials and stakeholders from across the eastern interconnect for a one-day workshop exploring recent modeling analyses that provide new insights into trends in the electricity sector. The event will explore what these trends mean for state energy and environmental policy choices. Experts will present their findings and stakeholders will have an opportunity to reflect on those findings. View the agenda here.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

Great Plains Institute is proud to partner with the 3rd annual Midwest Solar Expo, taking place May 17-19, 2016 in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Great Plains Institute's Brian Ross will be speaking on a panel, "Midwest Solar Market Insights," at the event.

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Modernization Initiative, the Department of Energy is convening industry stakeholders across the U.S. in a series of regional workshops. As a part of this program, the University of Minnesota will host the Midwest workshop which will take place May 9 and 10. Register for the event here. The Department of Energy views stakeholder feedback as essential to these discussions; we hope you can make it!

GPI, as part of the Grow Solar Partnership is organizing the Solar Powering Iowa Conference. The conference will engage utilities, policy makers, lenders, developers, contractors, solar installers, local governments, and training & workforce development professionals to help them define opportunities in the solar market and access resources and networks to advance projects. Visit www.growsolar.org for more information!

The Summit will feature presentations from businesses that are capitalizing on opportunities in industrial energy efficiency as well as a discussion on the role of industrial efficiency in Midwestern states’ compliance with the Clean Power Plan. The Summit is sponsored by the Midwestern Governors Association, Great Plains Institute, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Institute for Industrial Productivity, and Alliance for Industrial Efficiency. There is no cost to attend this event.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

These technical workshops will be held the second Tuesday from 9:00am to 11:00am every month (September through June) at the League of Minnesota Cities Building in Saint Paul. Attend in person or via webinar. A light breakfast is provided.

December's Energy Innovation Happy Hour will celebrate our partners and relationships with a few words from GPI's President & CEO Rolf Nordstrom as well as the opportunity for guests to earn free drink tickets.

SEEL, LLC is sponsoring an exciting exploration of the Utility of the Future, with Rolf Nordstrom, President and CEO of the Great Plains Institute, Doug Scott, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Great Plains Institute, and Jane Park, Director of Business Strategy and Technology at ComEd, as panelists.

E2 Operator Training/Commitment Required by Project Participants/How to get started

These technical workshops are held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am the second Tuesday of every month (September through June) at the League of Minnesota Cities building in Saint Paul. Attend in person or via webinar. A light breakfast is provided.

Funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, the 2025 Energy Action Plan will advance a number of strategies and technologies for clean, efficient energy in Minnesota between now and 2025. Give your perspective in recommending next steps to leverage near-term opportunities for a clean, affordable, reliable, and resilient energy system.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting. To RSVP click here.

Mark your calendar! Join Metro CERT to celebrate our eighth year of connecting communities to resources! This year's meeting will include an opportunity to provide feedback to Minnesota's 2025 Energy Action Plan as well as presentations and voting on the strategies and technologies deemed actionable in the next 10 years. Additionally, the meeting will include an annual networking session with community members, local government staff, and professionals committed to local, clean energy.

The event will be from 3:00-7:00 PM at the Science Museum of Minnesota; the program will take place in the auditorium from 3:00-5:30 PM, followed by networking in Elements Cafe with appetizers and a cash bar. For more information and to reserve your spot click here.

Join the Bipartisan Policy Center and Great Plains Institute for a one-day workshop to discuss implementation options for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Final Clean Power Plan in the Midcontinent region. The EPA released its final Clean Power Plan on August 3, 2015, including national, technology-specific emission rate standards and state-specific emission goals. States now have to develoip implementation plans. This workshop will gather states, stakeholders, and experts, including those participating in MSEER and the Power Sector Collaborative, to explore policy pathways for achieving compliance under the final Clean Power Plan as well as opportunities and challenges for multistate collaboration.

The workshop will be on October 8th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the League of Minnesota Cities in Saint Paul. As the agenda is finalized it will be added to the workshop series Eventbrite page where you can reserve your spot in the room or on the webinar simulcast.

GPI will hold our first annual Energy Innovation Celebration, an event that will gather energy leaders to celebrate progress and energize for the future. This event will explore, share and celebrate a vision for advancing positive change on energy and climate, from the local to international level.

This kickoff event of Drive Electric allows you to get behind the wheel of the latest electric vehicle models! Come out and interact with EV owners to learn about their experience driving electric. Our EV owners are happy to satisfy your curiosity about EVs using their firsthand knowledge and experiences.

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

June 25, 2015, League of Minnesota Cities, Saint Paul, MN

Renewable energy development is a cornerstone of Minnesota's long term energy plan, and in 2013, the state adopted new legislation addressing community solar gardens. Now, cities are asking, could our city be a host site or a subscriber? Could we help promote this program to our residents and businesses? Come learn more about community solar gardens and the roles cities can and are playing with these projects. Workshop is from 2:30-3:30 PM.

Join the Great Plains Institute and Bipartisan Policy Center for a workshop to discuss implementation options for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Proposed Clean Power Plan. EPA is expected to release its final plan in mid-summer, including state emissions goals. States will then have to develop and submit plans to achieve those goals. States and stakeholders in the region have been working to evaluate the policy options available to states for inclusion in state plans. This workshop will gather states, stakeholders, and experts to explore policy pathways for achieving EPA-prescribed state emissions goals, opportunities and challenges for multistate collaboration, and the range of opportunities for reducing power sector CO2 emissions in the region. Speakers include Joe Goffman of the U.S. EPA.

This year's Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition conference will provide in-depth information to local government decision makers about the risks and opportunities of evolving local energy markets. Hear how coming changes may affect your jurisdiction's economic, environmental, and social goals. Get updates on grid technology and learn how the resiliency of the electric grid may enable or constrain local vitality. Is your entity ready for change?

May 28, 2015, University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment, Saint Paul

Please join us for a casual, thought-provoking "salon-like" evening of food and drink and learn about The Clean Power Plan - EPA's proposed state emissions goals and the policy options in front of states and stakeholders, presented by GPI Vice President Doug Scott; DriveElectric MN - Electric utility technology and options and how a utility/EV collaboration can benefit ratepayers and utilities, presented by Jukka Kukkonen of PlugInConnect, LLC and David Ranallo of Great River Energy; and Energy Innovation updates from our host, the Institute on the Environment.

This event is sponsored by the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment and will take place at their offices on the university's Saint Paul campus.

Community Solar Gardens (CSGs) have quickly become one of the hottest energy topics in Minnesota. With the advent of this new opportunity to participate in local solar power, many local units of government are considering their role in the new CSG market. The Great Plains Institute is working with GTS Educational Services to offer this workshop that covers what local governments need to know about developing CSGs, including best practices for regulating land use, options for encouraging CSGs to capture benefits of local solar resources, and alternatives for participation.

In this final GreenStep Cities workshop of the season, participants will explore Minnesota Options for Climate Reslience in Buildings, presented by Sara Pollock Hoverter of the Georgetown Climate Center and Reslient Design: A New Lens for Sustainability, presented by Douglas Pierce of AREA Research as well as have the opportunity to provide direct feedback for the RELi Pilot Phase. Webinar registration is open to all.

This workshop is supported with generous funding from The McKnight Foundation and workshop series sponsor Xcel Energy.

GPI is excited to partner with the Midwest Solar Expo, which brings together solar leaders from across the Midwest for its second annual conference. Join in Minneapolis as we continue the dialogue on Midwest solar. Gain insights from industry experts, receive hands on product training, and more. Leave with the tools to grow your business in the Midwest solar market.

The North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy (NDARE) is sponsoring a workshop on the future of solar energy in the state and region. The workshop will include current market trends, opportunities for homeowners, the role of local governments in facilitating solar development, and regulatory implications of solar development. The Great Plains Institute will be presenting its work with local governments on market transformation and adapting national best practices to local regulations and practices.

April 16-17, Atlanta, GA

Climate and Energy Funders Group (CEFG) Annual Meeting

March 26 at 5:30 pm, Bauhaus Brew Labs

GPI Energy Innovation Happy Hour

The Twin Cities has a growing community focused on energy innovation, whether it is developing advanced energy technologies, launching cleantech start-ups, developing public policy, or fostering sustainable communities. The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings people together to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting.

CERTs 2015 will be an exploration and celebration of successful energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and a coming together of hundreds of amazing people who are working to create a clean energy future in their communities and beyond. Join us!

February 25, Minneapolis, MN

GPI Energy Innovation Forum

Please join us for a casual, thought-provoking "salon-like" evening of food and drink and learn about "The New State of Solar," featuring Brian Ross, Senior Program Director at GPI and Jason Willet, Finance Director at the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services; "Toward a 21st Century Energy System," featuring Rolf Nordstrom, GPI's President and CEO; and "The BioEconomy Coalition," featuring Brendan Jordan, Vice President, Great Plains Institute. We're also excited to announce our surprise guest speaker, Jigar Shah, President and Co-Founder of Generate Capital, who will also share his perspective at this event.

This event is co-hosted by Faegre Baker Daniels and will take place at their offices in downtown Minneapolis.

In its fifth year, the Midwest Bioeconomy and Safer Product Summit will examine green chemistry, innovation and sustainability initiatives and will provide lessons learned from market pioneers on getting ahead of the regulatory curve via product and brand innovation and from business entrepreneurs on commercializing biobased chemical production. The Summit will also provide the networking necessary to thrive in this new era of consumer goods and will bring together academics and legislators with nationally recognized consumer brands, manufacturers, retailers, regulators and green chemistry experts to provide the timeliest information on the rapidly evolving state, federal and international chemical legislation landscape.

Come learn how businesses are improving their bottom line with energy efficiency and renewable energy projects! This event, held at the Town and Country Club, will highlight local businesses that have implemented successful projects as well as provide information about resources and incentives, including voluntary property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing.

Join us for buffet breakfast, overview of the tools available to local businesses, and a deeper dive into the PACE MN program!

Join GPI at the 2015 Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit and find out how Midwestern states are capitalizing on previously untapped industrial energy efficiency opportunities and getting results. Companies are doing the same, capturing the multiple benefits of efficiency and taking the Better Buildings Challenge. The Summit is a pre-conference event of the 2015 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. Additional sponsors include the Midwestern Governors Association, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Department of Energy/Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy/ Advanced Manufacturing Office, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, State of Minnesota, Wisconsin State Energy Office, Oak Ridge National Lab, DOE Midwest Technical Assistance Partnership, and University of Illinois Chicago Energy Resources Center.

There is no charge to attend. You are not required to register for the MES conference to attend this event. Conference attendees are welcome, but separate registration is required. Click here to register.

As a supporter of regional innovation, GPI invites you to join us as an attendee or exhibitor at the 2014 Midwest Innovation Summit on October 27-28 in Minneapolis, MN. Hosted by Midwest Cleantech Open and its partners, this premiere regional innovation event is expected to attract over 400 attendees. We are a partner for the event and are able to pass along a 25% discount to our network as a result. Click here to register using this partner discount link to secure your 25% off individual tickets or exhibit booth in the Innovation Showcase.

Join GPI at our Fall Open House for a fun evening of great conversation and tasty treats from neighborhood restaurants and businesses. Come get to know GPI staff and learn about the important work we are doing within our community, including:

The Twin Cities Energy Innovation Happy Hour brings energy-sector professionals, entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, advocates, enthusiasts and others to discuss ideas, network, and get to know each other in a casual setting. We are excited to partner with Sisyphus Brewing for this month's happy hour. Sisyphus is a newly opened nano-brewery located next to Dunwoody Institute by downtown Minneapolis. Click here for more information and to register. Hope to see you there!

GPI is a proud sponsor of Minnesota's first Clean Energy Economy Summit, where state agency leadership is convening national experts and Minnesota-based stakeholders to identify key challenges and emerging opportunities to growing a diverse clean energy economy in the state. GPI's Rolf Nordstrom, Brendan Jordan, and Amanda Bilek are attending this event, which will highlight Minnesota’s priority to grow jobs and engage business owners and policymakers across the clean energy and economic development community. The event will also be an opportunity to hear directly from clean energy value chains so that Minnesota's strategic action plan developed has broad industry support.

GPI Consultant Franz Litz will participate in a panel discussion titled, "Regional Coordination: Considering the Alternatives," with experts from the Georgetown Law Climate Center, Maryland Department of the Environment, and the PJM Interconnection as part of a workshop in July. The workshop will be held at the Pew Charitable Trust's DC Conference Center and is co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute and Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. This workshop is open to the public but registration and fee payment is required.

GPI's Brad Crabtree is presenting on "Minnesota's leadership and ongoing activities to prepare for addressing the [EPA] rule" as part of the Minnesota Department of Environmental Quality Board's listening session on the draft Clean Air Act rule to reduce CO2 emissions from existing power plants. GPI will join State Climatologist Mark Seeley, the MN Pollution Control Agency's David Thornton and Frank Kohlasch, and Xcel Energy's Scott Wilensky in presenting to the EQB. The meeting will include a listening session for public input and comments.

At this annual breakfast event, the League of Minnesota Cities recognizes the achievements of GreenStep Cities and shares how the Minnesota Design Team helps communities develop a shared and sustainable vision for the future. The breakfast takes place from 8 - 9:30 am on June 20 as part of the League of Minnesota Cities' Annual Conference which runs from June 18 - 20. The conference is located at River's Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, MN.

The Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) is a proud sponsor of the MN renewable Energy Society's upcoming EcoMetro Sustainable Living Tour. This event will provide education on how to create beautiful homes and businesses that are the best energy savers on the block! Spend the day touring 8 projects that tackle the challenge of our cold winters and hot summers with smart design choices and solid building techniques combined with renewable energy technologies.

As part of the Sweden on the Road tour stop in Minnesota, the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Energy Agency will host a seminar on sustainable transportation together with the Great Plains Institute and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). This event is arranged as part of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding and broader cooperation between Sweden and Minnesota on bioenergy signed in June 2013 during Governor Dayton's visit to Stockholm.

The Minneapolis Brake for Breakfast event will take place on Tuesday, May 6th as part of Minneapolis Bike Walk Week. We will have free coffee and local food trucks, so you can purchase food from Taco Taxi and Kabomelette! We will also have a bike fixing station, music, and other resources to get you moving!

Brake for Breakfast will be held in the parking lot of the Greenway Building off of Hiawatha and 28th St at the Midtown Greenway.

Coordinated by: Greenway Building tenants and Lake Street Council

Find out more about the event by clicking here or call GPI's Diana McKeown at 612-278-7158 with questions.

GPI and the University of Minnesota Extension's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships are hosting an evening with Dr. Nate Hagens, a popular speaker on global resource use. Dr. Hagens will discuss the opportunities and constraints we face in the transition away from fossil fuels. The event will be held from 6 to 8 pm at the University of Minnesota's St. Paul Campus, 306 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle.

Join Metro Clean Energy Resource Team community partners & friends to celebrate our 7th year of connecting communities to resources. Hear about clean energy projects and work that is happening all over the 11 county metro area. Also, ﬁnd out how to start a project in your community, and network with others committed to local, clean energy. The program will be followed by a cash bar, light appetizers, and networking.

GPI's President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom is joining a project team representing the e21 Initiative at the Rocky Mountain Institute's (RMI) eLab Accelerator event. RMI's Electricity Innovation Lab (eLab) is assembling leading projects from around the country for a high-impact meeting to support and advance innovative work at the distribution edge of the electricity system. Multi-stakeholder teams will join Rocky Mountain Institute, eLab expert faculty, and other project teams to collaboratively advance their work. This invitation-only, four-day meeting will accelerate high-potential projects by providing teams a structured working session to make real progress on their unique initiative.

GPI's Franz Litz will moderate a panel on "State Implementation Plans and Regulatory Flexibility: Balancing Emissons with Compliance Cost" at a West Virginia University College of Law conference on regulation of CO2 emissions from power plants. The conference features a keynote address by U.S. Senator Joseph Manchin III.

Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition’s Making Connections event will bring together decision makers from local government to uncover trends in the way we produce, distribute, and use energy. Attendees will learn about the impacts of those trends on the local economy, jobs, and economic development.

For more information about the event and to register, click here.
MEPC members can register for free, non-MEPC members can register for $25 at the same link. Light breakfast and lunch are included.
For questions please contact Diana McKeown at dmckeown@gpisd.net or 612-278-7158.

January 21

GPI Open House - Come Get to Know Us Better!

Join us for an evening of conversation & celebration as GPI: marks the launch of our new website & look, officially welcomes Metro CERT & Envision Minnesota to the GPI family, and welcomes new staff members Diana McKeown & Trevor Drake. Wine, beer & light appetizers will be served.

GPI Program Director Brendan Jordan serves on the steering committee for the MN Green Chemistry Forum and is actively involved in the planning for the 2014 Minnesota Green Chemistry conference, Connecting Policy, Technology and Economy. The Fourth Annual Minnesota Green Chemistry Forum Conference will explore the intersection of policy, technology and economy in the green chemistry sector to illuminate the benefits, challenges and opportunities of fostering a business sector that also helps meet environmental, climate, energy and health goals.

January 14

GPI’s President & CEO, Rolf Nordstrom, will speak at the upcoming University of Minnesota’s Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department’s seminar. Rolf will discuss the current state of the energy system, the forces of inertia, and signs of genuine momentum toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy economy. He will also provide an overview of the bioenergy-related work going on at GPI, including the work of the MN BioEconomy Coalition.

January 14

Please join us for a Summit on the very best-in-class ratepayer funded industrial energy efficiency programs and learn how they are working for the industries that use them. The SEE Action Network, World Resources Institute/ACEEE, and the Ohio Manufacturers Association will present new reports on programmatic benefits and best practices and a panel of industries will share the characteristics of programs that work for them. The Summit is a pre-conference event of the MEEA 2014 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. There is no charge to attend. MEEA conference attendees and others are welcome. The Summit is sponsored by the Midwestern Governors Association, Minnesota Department of Commerce Division of Energy Resources, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Great Plains Institute, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and the World Resources Institute.

When: Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm CST

Where: Fairmont Hotel, 200 North Columbus Dr., Chicago, IL 60601

More information and registration is available here. Click here to add this to your calendar.

December 6

Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition Meeting

GPI and the Midwestern Governors Association will be participating in the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition (GWEC) Policy Priorities and Strategic Framework for Coordination meeting December 6th, 2013 in Washington, DC. The meeting is intended to bring together key state and federal energy policy stakeholders to discuss ways the state governors and energy policy advocates can work together on continuing state level policies and actions on renewable energy and regional transmission. Click here for a recap of the Summit.

December 5

Amanda Bilek presenting at Midwest Environmental Legislators Forum

GPI Energy Policy Specialist Amanda Bilek will be presenting “The Potential for Combined Heat and Power in the Midwest” at the Midwest Environmental Legislators Forum in Chicago. Amanda’s presentation will give legislators a lay of the land for combined heat and power (CHP) in the Midwest including the technical potential, economic and environmental drivers and policy solutions that can help drive increased installation of CHP systems which will help to improve the efficiency of the Midwest’s manufacturing sector.

November 20

Bring Solar Power to Your Home!

Are you curious about solar energy for your home, but don’t know where to start? We can help! Join Clean Water Action and the Linden Hills Environment Committee the evening of Wednesday, November 20 to learn about solar power for your home. Experts in the solar energy field will be here to speak about the basics and the benefits of residential solar and the programs available to the public to add solar power to your energy mix.
Speakers to appear include:

Dustin Denison, Principal for Applied Energy Innovations

Diana McKeown, Metro CERT Director for the Great Plains Institute

When: 7:00 - 8:15 pm

Where: Linden Hills Recreational Center

If you have any questions, please contact Dan Endreson (612-627-1528).

October 29-30

MGA Transmission Summit

GPI co-hosts the Midwestern Governors Association's (MGA) transmission summit for the third year. This year's summit, "Electrifying the Economy: Utilizing the Grid to Strengthen the Midwest’s Competitive Advantage," gathers state, regional and federal leaders including Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to discuss the role of the electric system in growing the Midwestern regional economy.

October 17

Join Us at Cleantech Open's Midwest Innovation Summit!

As a Cleantech Open partner, the Great Plains Institute invites you to attend the upcoming Midwest Innovation Summit on October 17th in Minneapolis. The Summit is a fantastic opportunity to connect with cleantech industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs. Panel sessions will cover topics in the areas of Agriculture, Energy Storage, Engaging Larger Corporations, Water, Energy Efficiency, and Natural Gas.

Please click here to learn more about the Summit and view the latest agenda.